Accessibility, Inclusion, and Equal Participation

Accessibility, Inclusion, and Equal Participation explains how the Commons seeks to reduce unnecessary barriers and enable people to participate fairly, safely, meaningfully, and with dignity across Commons activity.

The Commons recognizes that people do not begin from the same position.

People may face barriers connected to disability, health, neurodivergence, language, literacy, geography, time zones, cost, digital access, internet reliability, caring responsibilities, employment, institutional status, immigration status, age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, social class, poverty, prior exclusion, trauma, professional status, community experience, or other circumstances.

The Commons should not assume that open access, a public webpage, an online meeting, a standard application form, an invitation to participate, or a general statement of welcome is sufficient to ensure equal participation.

Meaningful inclusion requires active consideration of who may be excluded, what barriers may arise, what support may be needed, whose knowledge is relevant, how decisions affect different people, and how the Commons will respond when its systems, activities, language, technologies, procedures, or assumptions create avoidable disadvantage.

Accessibility and inclusion are core responsibilities across governance, Membership, Community Groups, Working Spaces, events, research, publication, Repository activity, Partnerships, funding, support, and public communication.

They are not optional additions to Commons activity.

Purpose, Scope, and Principles

The purpose of this framework is to help the Commons create conditions in which people can access information, understand opportunities, participate in activities, contribute knowledge, make decisions, raise concerns, receive support, and benefit from Commons activity as fairly as possible.

This framework applies to:

Public webpages, policies, procedures, forms, notices, Calls, opportunities, guidance, and communications
Individual Membership and Institutional Membership
Community Groups and Working Spaces
Events and Learning, whether online, in person, hybrid, recorded, live, local, or international
Research, Commission Requests, Concept Notes, Commissioning Briefs, participant recruitment, data collection, workshops, interviews, dissemination, and closure
Journal Publication, peer review, authorship, editing, reviewing, publication decisions, and access to published material
Repository deposit, metadata, search, access, preservation, licensing, citation, restriction, and reuse
Governance, committees, consultation, decision-making, elections, appointments, meetings, reviews, and strategic activity
Calls and Opportunities, provider engagement, recruitment, volunteering, funding, honoraria, grants, sponsorship, and external support
Partnerships and External Collaboration
Safeguarding, complaints, review, appeal, Contact and Support, and other support routes
Digital systems, email, video meetings, documents, recordings, platforms, communications tools, and information-security arrangements
Any other Commons activity, relationship, service, decision, or arrangement

The Commons should apply the following principles.

Equal participation

The Commons should seek to ensure that people are not excluded, disadvantaged, silenced, overlooked, or treated less favourably because of a protected characteristic, disability, identity, circumstance, location, access need, institutional position, financial position, communication need, or another relevant factor.

Equal participation does not always mean identical treatment.

People may require different forms of access, support, adjustment, communication, timing, format, funding, facilitation, or decision-making arrangement in order to participate fairly.

Accessibility by design

The Commons should consider accessibility and inclusion at the earliest practical stage of planning, not only after a person identifies a barrier.

This includes considering accessibility when developing a policy, page, form, event, Working Space, Community Group, Call, research proposal, publication, Repository service, Partnership, procurement process, funding arrangement, technology system, or communication.

Accessibility should be built into ordinary practice where possible.

For example, a public event should consider captions, accessible joining information, suitable timing, readable materials, accessible formats, participation routes, breaks, recordings, and communication arrangements before invitations are issued.

A person should not have to disclose a disability, health condition, identity, or personal circumstance merely to obtain a basic level of access that could reasonably have been planned from the beginning.

Meaningful inclusion

Inclusion is more than attendance.

The Commons should seek to ensure that people can participate with dignity, understand what is happening, contribute in ways appropriate to them, influence matters that affect them, and receive a fair response.

The Commons should not treat participation as meaningful where people are invited only after key decisions have been made, where their contribution cannot reasonably affect an outcome, where access barriers prevent effective involvement, or where they face avoidable risk, burden, cost, pressure, or exclusion.

Where an activity affects a community, population, place, identity, cultural context, lived experience, or group of people, the Commons should consider whether relevant people should have a meaningful role in shaping, reviewing, delivering, evaluating, or governing that activity.

Respect and dignity

The Commons should treat people with respect.

It should not tolerate harassment, discrimination, hostility, stereotyping, intimidation, exclusion, ridicule, dismissal, tokenism, coercion, or other conduct that undermines a person’s dignity, safety, participation, or equal standing.

People should not be expected to justify their identity, prove their lived experience, disclose personal information, educate others without consent, represent an entire community, or repeatedly explain an access need in order to participate.

Intersectionality and context

People may experience more than one barrier at the same time.

For example, a person may face barriers connected to disability and poverty, race and institutional exclusion, language and digital access, caregiving and time zones, gender identity and safety, or health needs and travel.

The Commons should avoid treating people as if one characteristic, category, or experience fully defines their needs.

It should consider the particular context of the activity and the person or community concerned.

Proportionality

Accessibility and inclusion measures should be proportionate to the activity, the barriers identified, the needs of participants, the resources available, the urgency of the matter, the potential impact of exclusion, and the Commons’ responsibilities.

Proportionality should not be used as a reason to ignore an avoidable barrier, deny meaningful participation, or defer action without explanation.

Where a requested arrangement cannot be provided immediately or in full, the Commons should consider alternative arrangements, explain the position appropriately, and review whether the barrier can be reduced in another way.

Privacy and choice

People should have as much choice and control as reasonably possible over how they disclose access needs, health information, disability-related information, identity-based information, caring responsibilities, communication preferences, or another personal circumstance.

The Commons should request only the information needed to consider and provide support.

Information about a person’s access needs should be handled in accordance with Privacy, Data, Consent, and Confidentiality requirements.

Shared responsibility

Accessibility and inclusion are shared responsibilities.

Commons Administration, the Commons Governance Authority, Designated Authorities, Community Group and Working Space role holders, researchers, editors, event hosts, reviewers, providers, partners, institutions, Members, contributors, and participants should contribute to an environment that is accessible, respectful, and inclusive.

No person should knowingly create, maintain, conceal, exploit, or dismiss an avoidable barrier to another person’s participation.

Accessible participation in Commons activity

The Commons should make reasonable and proportionate arrangements to support access across its activities.

The appropriate arrangement will depend on the person, activity, format, available resources, risks, duration, communication requirements, safeguarding considerations, privacy needs, and other relevant circumstances.

Information, language, and communication

The Commons should seek to communicate clearly, respectfully, and accessibly.

This may include:

Using plain and direct language where possible
Explaining specialist terms, acronyms, processes, eligibility requirements, risks, responsibilities, and decision routes
Providing short summaries alongside longer policies, agreements, research documents, calls, or procedural material where appropriate
Using logical headings, readable layouts, descriptive links, meaningful page titles, and consistent navigation
Providing documents in accessible digital formats where possible
Avoiding information that relies only on colour, imagery, audio, complex visual layout, inaccessible PDF files, or unexplained technical language
Providing advance notice of complex processes, deadlines, eligibility requirements, meeting arrangements, consent requirements, access restrictions, or relevant risks
Considering whether translation, interpretation, captioning, transcription, sign-language interpretation, large print, screen-reader-compatible formats, easy-read material, audio versions, accessible slides, or another communication arrangement is needed
Providing an accessible route for people to ask questions, request clarification, challenge a barrier, or seek support
Considering whether public language, examples, images, case studies, and communications reflect the diversity of people and communities involved in Commons activity

The Commons should avoid assuming that English-language, high-literacy, high-bandwidth, desktop-computer, professional, academic, or institutionally familiar communication is accessible to everyone.

Digital accessibility

The Commons should seek to ensure that its websites, forms, email communications, online meetings, digital documents, systems, platforms, Repository records, and other digital tools can be used by people with a range of access needs.

This may include consideration of:

Keyboard navigation
Screen-reader compatibility
Sufficient colour contrast
Readable text size and spacing
Clear headings and page structure
Accessible form labels, instructions, error messages, and confirmation notices
Captions and transcripts for recorded audio or video where appropriate
Alternatives to visual-only or audio-only information
Avoidance of flashing, rapidly moving, distracting, or inaccessible content
Mobile access and low-bandwidth access
Downloadable material that can be saved, printed, read offline, or accessed through different devices
Accessible authentication, account access, password reset, payment, consent, and support processes
Digital security measures that do not create unnecessary barriers for legitimate users
Suitable alternatives where a system, platform, file format, external service, or technical requirement cannot be made accessible immediately

The Commons should test significant digital services and materials proportionately before use and should respond when users identify an accessibility barrier.

A technical limitation should be documented, assessed, communicated appropriately, and addressed or mitigated where reasonably possible.

Events and Learning

Events and Learning should be designed to enable broad and meaningful participation.

Before an event, the Commons should consider:

The location, venue, entry route, toilets, seating, lighting, acoustics, signage, transport, parking, security, emergency arrangements, and physical accessibility of an in-person venue
Whether the event can be attended online, in person, or through a hybrid arrangement
Time zones, event duration, breaks, start and end times, religious observance, caring responsibilities, work patterns, school schedules, and local context
Registration requirements, payment arrangements, fee waivers, travel costs, accommodation, honoraria, expenses, and other financial barriers
Captions, interpretation, language support, accessible slides, readable materials, transcripts, recording arrangements, and access to presentation materials in advance
Whether speakers, facilitators, moderators, panellists, hosts, and participants understand inclusive participation expectations
Whether participants have accessible ways to ask questions, contribute comments, participate anonymously, use chat, submit questions in advance, or engage after the event
Whether the subject matter may be distressing, sensitive, traumatic, exclusionary, or likely to require content information, safeguarding support, moderation, or another protective arrangement
Whether the event uses a platform that is accessible to intended participants
Whether recorded material will be captioned, edited, restricted, removed, or made available in another format
Whether a person needs an adjustment, companion, assistant, interpreter, support worker, additional break, quiet space, alternative participation route, or another arrangement

An event should not be described as accessible unless the Commons has considered the relevant access arrangements honestly and can explain any limitations clearly.

Community Groups and Working Spaces

Community Groups and Working Spaces should be welcoming, purposeful, and appropriately moderated.

The Commons should consider:

Whether the Group or Working Space has a clear purpose, participation standard, access route, moderation arrangement, and support route
Whether membership, invitation, application, verification, or approval requirements create unnecessary exclusion
Whether people can participate through different communication modes, schedules, formats, and levels of public visibility
Whether access needs, language needs, time zones, caregiving responsibilities, digital limitations, financial circumstances, professional status, or prior experience may affect participation
Whether discussion practices allow people with different confidence levels, communication styles, identities, disciplines, and lived experience to contribute
Whether a person can raise a concern, request support, report harmful conduct, or leave a space safely
Whether confidentiality, privacy, cultural rights, safeguarding, research integrity, editorial independence, or data requirements create a justified need for restricted access
Whether restrictions are necessary, proportionate, explained, reviewed, and applied fairly
Whether moderators, coordinators, facilitators, and leads understand their authority limits and escalation routes

A Community Group or Working Space should not become inaccessible through informal gatekeeping, insider language, unnecessary professional hierarchy, exclusionary behaviour, discriminatory moderation, hostile conduct, inaccessible scheduling, or a failure to respond to foreseeable barriers.

Research Participation and Lived Experience

Research should be designed and carried out in ways that support fair, ethical, accessible, and meaningful participation.

The Commons should consider accessibility and inclusion when developing Commission Requests, Concept Notes, Commissioning Briefs, research plans, recruitment routes, participant information, consent processes, data-collection methods, analysis, dissemination, publication, Repository deposit, and research closure.

This may include:

Involving people with relevant lived experience, community knowledge, professional knowledge, cultural knowledge, or local knowledge at an appropriate stage
Considering who is likely to be excluded by the research question, recruitment method, eligibility criteria, location, timing, language, technology, method, payment arrangement, consent process, or data requirement
Providing clear and accessible participant information
Offering different forms of participation where methodologically and ethically appropriate
Considering whether participants need translation, interpretation, communication support, accessible materials, transport, technology, breaks, flexible scheduling, a supporter, an advocate, or another adjustment
Considering fair reimbursement of expenses, payment, honoraria, or compensation where appropriate
Avoiding extractive engagement, tokenism, unnecessary burden, pressure to disclose, or use of lived experience without fair recognition or support
Considering power differences between researchers, institutions, funders, providers, participants, communities, and contributors
Explaining how participant contributions, community input, dissent, withdrawal, confidentiality, attribution, publication, data sharing, and Repository deposit will be handled
Considering whether a research output will be accessible to the people and communities who contributed to or may be affected by it

Meaningful participation does not require every person or community to approve every research decision.

It requires the Commons to consider relevant knowledge, rights, experiences, risks, and perspectives fairly and proportionately.

Publication and Repository Access

The Commons should seek to make Journal and Repository material discoverable, understandable, and usable by a broad range of people, while respecting rights, privacy, safeguarding, confidentiality, licensing, cultural restrictions, data protection, and other legitimate access limitations.

This may include:

Clear titles, summaries, abstracts, keywords, metadata, citations, licensing information, access conditions, version information, and correction notices
Accessible document formats and readable page structures where possible
Clear descriptions of any embargo, restriction, controlled access, withdrawal, or preservation decision
Consideration of accessible tables, figures, images, captions, alternative text, charts, audiovisual material, appendices, and supplementary files
Publication and Repository processes that do not unnecessarily disadvantage authors, contributors, reviewers, editors, researchers, or depositors because of disability, language, institutional status, geography, financial position, or another barrier
Consideration of waivers, fee support, alternative submission routes, technical support, language support, or reasonable adjustments where appropriate
Protection of editorial independence, peer-review integrity, research quality, rights, participant safety, and privacy alongside accessibility goals

Open access does not remove the need to consider accessibility.

Accessible access requires that people can find, open, understand, navigate, use, and respond to material as far as reasonably possible.

Membership, Calls, and Opportunities

Membership, Calls, funding opportunities, volunteering opportunities, provider opportunities, and other routes into Commons activity should be communicated and administered fairly.

The Commons should consider:

Whether eligibility criteria are necessary, relevant, proportionate, and clearly explained
Whether an application, registration, nomination, selection, or approval process creates unnecessary administrative, financial, technical, language, or professional barriers
Whether fees, payment methods, travel costs, technology requirements, documentation demands, institutional affiliation, formal qualifications, or time commitments exclude people without sufficient justification
Whether fee support, waivers, alternative payment methods, accessible forms, deadline flexibility, communication support, alternative evidence, or another arrangement may be appropriate
Whether selection decisions are made according to clear criteria and by appropriately authorized people
Whether conflicts of interest, bias, discrimination, or improper influence may affect a decision
Whether people understand the purpose of Membership, the limits of Membership, access conditions, review routes, and available support
Whether unsuccessful applicants or participants can receive appropriate information about the outcome and any review route

The Commons may set legitimate requirements for certain roles, activities, Membership categories, restricted spaces, research participation, editorial responsibilities, provider engagements, safeguarding-sensitive work, or other activity.

Such requirements should be connected to a legitimate purpose, communicated clearly, applied fairly, and reviewed when circumstances change.

Adjustments, Responsibilities, and Decision-Making

People may need an adjustment, alternative arrangement, additional support, or change in process in order to participate fairly.

An adjustment may be requested by the person concerned, by a supporter or representative with their permission where appropriate, or identified by the Commons during planning or participation.

A person should not need to provide more personal information than is reasonably necessary to consider a request.

Examples of possible adjustments

The appropriate adjustment will depend on the circumstances. It may include:

Providing information in another accessible format
Providing captions, transcripts, interpretation, translation, or communication support
Allowing extra time to complete a form, review material, respond to a request, submit work, or participate in a process
Offering a different meeting time, participation format, venue, platform, communication channel, or appointment route
Providing advance materials, agendas, questions, slides, instructions, or decision information
Enabling remote participation, asynchronous contribution, written contribution, audio contribution, anonymous contribution, or participation through a trusted supporter
Providing breaks, flexible scheduling, quieter participation arrangements, reduced sensory demands, or another appropriate event arrangement
Supporting access to technology, low-bandwidth options, telephone access, downloadable material, or offline participation where practical
Providing a fee waiver, payment flexibility, expense support, honorarium, transport support, or another financial-access arrangement where appropriate
Modifying a process, form, communication route, approval route, or participation requirement where this can be done fairly and safely
Providing additional guidance, technical support, orientation, mentoring, or administrative assistance
Ensuring that a person can raise a concern privately, safely, and through a communication method they can use

An adjustment should not compromise safeguarding, privacy, confidentiality, research integrity, editorial independence, legal obligations, the rights of others, or the legitimate purpose of an activity.

Where an adjustment would affect another person, a restricted process, a research method, an editorial decision, a security requirement, or another significant interest, the Commons should consider the matter fairly, proportionately, and confidentially.

Requesting support or an adjustment

People may use Contact and Support to request an adjustment, raise an accessibility concern, ask for an alternative route, or seek guidance before participating.

A request should be considered promptly and respectfully.

The Commons should:

Acknowledge the request
Clarify the person’s access need only to the extent necessary
Consider the activity, barrier, requested arrangement, available alternatives, timing, resources, privacy, safeguarding, and impact on others
Identify the person or authority with responsibility to decide
Seek specialist, technical, accessibility, safeguarding, privacy, research, editorial, financial, or other advice where appropriate
Communicate the decision and relevant arrangements clearly
Review the arrangement if circumstances change
Keep an appropriate record while protecting privacy and confidentiality

The Commons should not make assumptions about what a person can or cannot do.

It should discuss possible arrangements respectfully and focus on removing or reducing barriers.

Accessibility and Inclusion Authority

The Commons should designate an appropriate Accessibility and Inclusion Authority, Accessibility Lead, Inclusion Lead, or equivalent role.

The exact title may vary. The responsibilities should be clear.

The designated authority should:

Support development and review of accessibility and inclusion standards
Advise Commons Administration, governance role holders, Community Group leads, Working Space moderators, event hosts, researchers, editors, Repository administrators, providers, partners, and other relevant people
Coordinate or oversee requests for adjustments and accessibility support where appropriate
Identify recurring barriers, patterns of exclusion, accessibility risks, and improvement opportunities
Support proportionate accessibility review of significant Commons activity
Escalate material, urgent, unresolved, discriminatory, safeguarding-sensitive, privacy-sensitive, or high-risk concerns
Maintain appropriate records, guidance, templates, and review arrangements
Support training, awareness, testing, feedback, and improvement
Report proportionate information on significant risks, recurring issues, learning, and progress to the Commons Governance Authority

The Accessibility and Inclusion Authority should not make decisions outside the authority delegated to them.

Where a request concerns a legal duty, significant resource commitment, safeguarding matter, privacy issue, data concern, research requirement, editorial matter, institutional relationship, formal complaint, or other high-risk decision, the matter should be referred through the appropriate Commons route.

Responsibilities across the Commons

The Commons Governance Authority should:

Ensure that accessibility, inclusion, and equal participation are reflected in governance, policies, decision-making, resources, risk management, review, and accountability
Ensure that an appropriate Accessibility and Inclusion Authority or equivalent route exists
Oversee material accessibility and inclusion risks, recurring barriers, serious concerns, and improvement priorities
Ensure that significant policies, systems, activities, Partnerships, funding arrangements, and strategic decisions consider accessibility and inclusion appropriately
Ensure that there are fair routes for people to request support, raise concerns, seek review, and provide feedback

Commons Administration should:

Maintain accessible contact, support, application, registration, information, and communication routes
Receive and route adjustment requests, accessibility concerns, feedback, and support enquiries
Maintain appropriate records and confidentiality
Coordinate routine accessibility arrangements within delegated authority
Support event hosts, Working Space leads, Group coordinators, researchers, editors, providers, and other role holders
Escalate material, urgent, complex, unresolved, or high-risk matters
Maintain relevant templates, guidance, registers, standards, and document-control arrangements

Community Group and Working Space role holders should:

Support respectful, accessible, and inclusive participation
Follow relevant moderation, access, safeguarding, privacy, conduct, and escalation arrangements
Consider foreseeable barriers in scheduling, communication, participation methods, and group activity
Avoid assuming authority to decide complex or high-risk accessibility matters without appropriate delegation
Refer people to Contact and Support or the appropriate Commons route when an adjustment, concern, dispute, safeguarding issue, privacy issue, or formal decision requires further assessment

Researchers, editors, reviewers, Repository role holders, event leads, providers, partners, and other activity leads should:

Consider accessibility and inclusion early in planning and delivery
Follow relevant Commons standards and agreed adjustments
Avoid discriminatory, exclusionary, inaccessible, or unnecessarily burdensome practices
Seek guidance where uncertain
Raise barriers, risks, and concerns promptly
Respect the privacy and dignity of people who disclose access needs or personal circumstances

Concerns, Review, and Escalation

Anyone may raise a concern where they believe that:

A Commons page, process, event, system, form, platform, Working Space, Group, publication, Repository record, Call, or other activity is inaccessible
A requested adjustment has not been considered fairly or has not been implemented appropriately
A person has experienced discrimination, harassment, exclusion, retaliation, hostility, or unfair treatment
A policy, decision, eligibility criterion, access condition, or institutional arrangement creates an unnecessary barrier
A person has been pressured to disclose unnecessary personal or health information
A person has been excluded from a decision, activity, opportunity, support route, event, research process, publication route, or other Commons activity without sufficient justification
A community’s knowledge, language, culture, rights, or participation needs have been ignored or treated disrespectfully
A person has faced harm or disadvantage because of disability, identity, communication need, digital access, financial circumstances, geographic location, caregiving responsibility, professional status, or another relevant circumstance
An accessibility, inclusion, safeguarding, privacy, data, research, editorial, conduct, or governance concern requires review

Concerns may be raised through Contact and Support or through the appropriate safeguarding, privacy, complaints, review, appeal, research-integrity, editorial-integrity, Membership, Community Group, Working Space, or governance route.

The Commons should assess concerns fairly, proportionately, and with appropriate independence.

A concern may result in:

Clarification, guidance, support, or an adjustment
A change to information, design, communication, scheduling, access, moderation, venue, platform, process, decision route, or activity
Additional accessibility testing, review, consultation, training, or specialist input
A review of a policy, procedure, form, system, agreement, Partnership, provider arrangement, or decision
Temporary protective action where a safeguarding, privacy, conduct, discrimination, or other serious concern arises
Referral to another Commons process or an appropriate external service, authority, institution, provider, or organization
A formal review, complaint, appeal, suspension, variation, or closure process where appropriate

Records, Operational Documents, and Support

The Commons should maintain proportionate records of significant accessibility and inclusion decisions, adjustment requests, support arrangements, barriers identified, actions taken, reviews, and outcomes.

Records should be handled carefully.

Information about disability, health, identity, personal circumstances, communication needs, caring responsibilities, accessibility requirements, or other sensitive matters should be treated as confidential and handled in accordance with Privacy, Data, Consent, and Confidentiality requirements.

A record should contain only the information needed to provide support, make a decision, manage risk, maintain accountability, review an arrangement, or meet an applicable obligation.

The Commons should maintain the following documents and tools.

Accessibility, Inclusion, and Equal Participation Policy

This should explain the Commons’ commitments, scope, principles, responsibilities, adjustment process, accessibility standards, review routes, records, and accountability arrangements.

Accessibility and Inclusion Review Checklist

This should support proportionate consideration of accessibility and inclusion when developing policies, events, forms, websites, Calls, Working Spaces, research, editorial processes, Repository services, Partnerships, funding arrangements, and other Commons activity.

Adjustment Request and Support Record

This should provide a respectful route for requesting an adjustment, communication support, format change, participation support, accessibility arrangement, fee support, or another relevant accommodation.

Accessible Events and Learning Guide

This should support accessible planning, registration, venue selection, online delivery, hybrid participation, captions, interpretation, materials, recordings, moderation, feedback, safeguarding, and review.

Accessible Communications and Digital Content Standard

This should set expectations for webpages, documents, forms, emails, images, alternative text, audio, video, captions, transcripts, typography, contrast, navigation, downloads, and accessible digital design.

Inclusive Research and Participation Guide

This should support accessible and meaningful research participation, lived-experience contribution, recruitment, consent, communication, payment, support, dissemination, publication, Repository access, and closure.

Accessibility Concern, Review, and Escalation Procedure

This should explain how concerns, adjustment disputes, alleged discrimination, repeated barriers, high-risk accessibility issues, and decisions requiring independent review are assessed, managed, reviewed, varied, appealed, or closed.

Accessibility and Inclusion Improvement Register

This should record recurring barriers, feedback, testing outcomes, improvement actions, responsible roles, review dates, completion status, and lessons learned.

Use Contact and Support if you need guidance about accessibility, inclusion, equal participation, adjustments, communication support, event access, digital access, Membership, research participation, publication access, Repository access, a barrier, discrimination concern, or another related matter.

You may use this route to:

Request an adjustment or another participation arrangement
Ask for information in an accessible format
Seek support before registering, applying, attending, contributing, reviewing, publishing, depositing, joining, or participating
Report an inaccessible webpage, form, file, event, process, system, platform, Working Space, Group, or communication
Raise a concern about discriminatory, hostile, exclusionary, or inaccessible conduct
Ask for an alternative participation, application, meeting, communication, payment, or decision-making route
Request guidance on accessible research, events, publication, Repository activity, partnership activity, or community participation
Provide feedback on Commons accessibility and inclusion arrangements
Seek review or appeal information where an applicable process provides for this

Accessibility, Inclusion, and Equal Participation is working well when:

People can find, understand, and use Commons information, policies, forms, systems, events, support routes, and opportunities
Accessibility and inclusion are considered at the beginning of planning, not only after a barrier is reported
People can request adjustments, support, alternative formats, communication arrangements, or different participation routes safely and without unnecessary burden
The Commons responds to requests respectfully, promptly, proportionately, and confidentially
Public pages, forms, documents, events, meetings, recordings, systems, publications, Repository materials, and communication routes are accessible to a broad range of people
Community Groups and Working Spaces are welcoming, purposeful, fairly moderated, and free from unnecessary gatekeeping or exclusion
Events and Learning consider venue access, online participation, hybrid access, time zones, language, captions, materials, breaks, costs, safety, and participation methods
Research includes meaningful consideration of participant access, lived experience, community knowledge, consent, communication, payment, burden, dissemination, and benefit
Journal and Repository activity supports accessible discovery, access, contribution, publication, preservation, and reuse where compatible with privacy, safeguarding, rights, integrity, and legitimate restrictions
Membership, Calls, opportunities, provider selection, funding, volunteering, and participation routes use clear and proportionate criteria
The Commons identifies and reduces barriers connected to disability, communication, language, technology, geography, cost, caring responsibilities, identity, institutional status, professional status, and other circumstances
Personal information about access needs is handled carefully and confidentially
Concerns about discrimination, exclusion, inaccessible practice, or unfair treatment can be raised safely and addressed fairly
Accessibility, inclusion, safeguarding, privacy, data protection, research integrity, editorial independence, and fair governance are considered together
The Commons learns from feedback, accessibility testing, lived experience, community participation, concerns, reviews, and changing circumstances
People can participate with greater dignity, safety, confidence, influence, and equal standing

Research Integrity and Responsible Research

Research Integrity and Responsible Research explains how the Commons develops, commissions, conducts, supports, reviews, publishes, preserves, and closes research responsibly.

It applies to Commission Requests, Concept Notes, Commissioning Briefs, provider engagement, research design, ethics, participant involvement, consent, data, analysis, evidence, reporting, publication, Repository deposit, review, correction, and closure.